I’ve now finished my training with Specialist Trade Courses and I can’t wait to get started. I thought I would share the remainder of my training experience with people to give a real feel for the excellent training course delivered by STC.

In week 2 we were given the task of cross lining and hanging patterned wallpaper on the ceiling and walls, more paneled door painting and more stripping of the work we had just done!

We also had our business start up course where we learnt about marketing our business.

This was a real eye opener, and like Paul, any question fired at Jean was answered without hesitation, leaving you feeling more confident about tackling the world of being self employed.

Towards the end of the week Paul ran through the correct ways of estimating jobs and how to write up our quotation in a professional manner.

Started week 3 with Paul giving me a project which consisted of cross lining the wall with the window reveal and lining the wall with the dado rail ready for painting. Once this was done I was given the task of hanging two different patterned papers which were to be separated by a border at window cill level, to paint above and below the dado rail and to hand paint measured chevrons on the lower half of the wall.

Next step was to paint a mural on the top half using a design off a cut of wallpaper. Getting to grips with this task alone made the 3rd and 4th week one of the most enjoyable things I have tackled in years!! – As always Paul was always at hand to advise when called upon.

I then had the task of cutting out a stencil to be transfered with a stipple effect the design to the top half of the wall next to my mural.

Next on the agenda was learning how to properly adhere, measure and cut coving. Then another door to paint.

Later in the week, Paul asked me if I would like to do a mural on one of the training centre walls and i jumped at the chance.

Started week 4 by learning how to transfer an image off a computer onto a wall, using a projector. The design was to be of Mickey and Minnie mouse. After the image was chalked on to the wall, I then had to colour it by mixing the paints Paul has at the training centre. This turned out to be a really enjoyable project and I was completely surprised how good it looked!!

I was then given some more advanced wallpapering tasks including papering around a fire place keeping the pattern symmetrical, followed by wallpapering an archway with patterned paper.

We also covered Marbling which was a fascinating skill to learn where we turned an eggshell painted board into a piece of marble!!!.

While I was on my 4 week course, I enrolled for a further week to learn Polished plastering and decorative paint finishes, supplied by Bluebell who supply the paints and plasters in the UK – This mean’t I would become registered as an applicator for these specialized products.

These courses were both fascinating and informative and the experience I gained being taught by Paul in using these products is invaluable. I have been able to keep all the work I produced on the demo boards to use as samples for when I am marketing myself.

Overall, I signed up for this course with a fair bit of self doubt, having spent my whole working life being employed by other companies and not having to worry about anything involved in running my business as a sole trader.

I left the STC painting and decorating course with a huge amount of confidence, a wealth of knowledge and a very positive attitude about my new career choice – And also the back up of all the staff be it everyday problems you may encounter whilst on the job or running your business as they are only a phone call away.

I would recommend Specialist Trade Courses to anyone thinking about a career in painting and decorating. Might be back one day to try one of the tiling courses.

Robert Mahoney- RPM Painting and Decorating Services

Well now it was time to put everything I had been taught into practice.

During the course, Specialist Trade Courses provided us with some excellent marketing information together with business introduction letters.  Now that I had received my letterhead and business cards, it was time to get myself out there and known.

I started by writing to all my neighbours to let them know all about the course and the new venture I have just started.

I asked people to help me kick start my business by offering my services on a slightly reduced rate so I could get more experience – And this has paid off.

Having now done work for three of my neighbours, I have since been asked to go back to decorate further rooms. I think this is definitely the best way to start. They have also offered to hand out my business cards to their friends, family and work colleagues.

Doing my first job was a bit scary.  I bought a few of my tools from STC before I left, just adding a few extras, I had everything I needed to start.

My first job was a bedroom starting with preparing the walls, cross lining, then applying anaglypta followed by painting.  My client was absolutely overjoyed and has now asked me back in the next few weeks to do her lounge through dining room.  She has also got me two referrals for work to start in September.

This then followed by further calls from friends and neighbours. I should have done this years ago – I’m having a great time.

I’ve also been working alongside a friend of mine who is a plumber and his client needed the whole flat redecorating, this has generated a further two weeks work.

My business ‘Bright Rooms’ has really taken off and given me a whole new lease of life which I am thoroughly enjoying.  I have been fully booked up since July right through into early October.

I would recommend Specialist Trade Courses to anyone who is thinking about starting a career in Painting and Decorating.  Definitely take the plunge, and with the right training and support, this something you would not regret.

I decided after a long career in the print industry that I wanted a change of career direction, and after working for a friend who is a painter and decorator, I decided I would like to pursue a career as a self employed painter and decorator.

Having served my time in the print, I also knew a good starting point would be to achieve an `education`in my new chosen career – and a qualification. I felt this would be more beneficial instead of muddling my way along.

After some research, and having telephone conversations with Jean, I decided to visit the STC training centre in Harlow where I met Paul Allen, the lead Painting and Decorating instructor.

I was invited to sit in on a lesson on wallpapering and then had a chat with Paul about the course, my aims and why I had chosen painting and decorating  - After this I booked my 4 week course straight away.

We started the first week with Paul introducing himself, and then were asked to give a brief description of who we are and why we chose painting and decorating. During the week, we had a talk about substrates and paint systems, during which any questions we asked Paul were answered and we were all left without any doubt this man was the right man to learn from as he was an absolute fountain of knowledge.

Paul also showed us how to line both ceilings and walls ready for painting, lining round window reveals, internal and external corners and a dado rail, the correct way to`cut in` when painting. Paul would give us a demonstration, then it was down to us to put what we had learnt into practice in our own bay.

When we completed these tasks (with Paul ready to help or advise whenever called upon) we were shown the correct way of stripping the walls and ceiling. We also had to rub down all wood work and undercoat it, and later on we had to apply topcoat.

We were then given a panelled door to rub down, undercoat and paint with topcoat, which would be done during or between tasks over the coming weeks.

We also learnt how to cross line walls ready for hanging wallpaper, how to pattern match patterned wallpaper and how to properly hang wallpaper around internal and external corners using a plumb bob.

At the end of the week we were given the task of drawing a design of Pauls choice on one of our painted walls and applying colour to it by masking the outside edges to keep straight lines neat and tidy.

I had learned so much in just one week that I knew already that I’d made the right decision to train with Specialist Trade Courses.

Started the week by undoing all the work we had done last week. This is getting much easier each time we do it and I am starting to feel a lot more confident.

This week we redecorated our training bays which included lining the ceiling, cross lining the windowed section and straight lining the remaining wall.

The remaining wall is to be painted with a St Georges cross below the dado rail and a small mural and some stencil work above – This would be our project for the week.

Once I had finished lining the walls, we were given two different papers to hang on the window wall together with a border. Paul was very helpful and was happy to go over how to get the pattern to match and deal with the issues of papering around the window area.

Whilst waiting for the paper to dry, we would work on our doors. The doors that we sanded down using the wet and dry method were now ready for us to apply the undercoat. Paul guides you through each stage on applying the paint.

When the paper had dried properly, I was really impressed with the finish. The tricky part was learning to get around the window but Paul is always there to reassure you.

Nearly finished my project and Paul showed us all a great way to draw a mural on the wall. I really feel like I am learning a trade here.

On Friday, Paul did a demonstration on cutting and fixing Gyproc coving with internal and external angles, splicing, end stops and going around bay windows. This was fascinating to see and Paul, as always, makes it look so simple. By now, we are all happy to ask lots of questions and Paul always go overs stuff again to make sure you get it right.

Can’t believe I’m going to be on my last week next week. Starting to get a bit nervous but also really excited about getting started on my new career.

Already starting to think I might come back and do one of the tiling courses once I get myself up and running.

On Monday, we started by stripping all the ceiling and wallpaper for our next project. Today we are going to learn how to cross line the walls and to add the wallpaper to finish.

Paul, our instructor, did another demonstration on how to cross line the walls and this was a method that we all seemed to find relatively easy when we put it into practice.

Wednesday we had our Business Start-up session held by Jean, the Operations Manager for Specialist Trade Courses. This took place in Unit 4 which is where they run their Tiling Courses, which is another course I’m going to look into as this whole set-up is amazing!

The Business Start-up covered everything you need to know to start your own business and was fabulous! Jean is very knowledgeable with every aspect and it really gives you a great idea on how to market yourself and get your business going. We were also given our documentation for our NVQ induction along with all the necessary paperwork to register ourselves as being self-employed.

On Friday, I finished decorating my bay and I must say, it does look good. If I was a paying customer, I would be happy to pay for this work!

It all finally seems to be slotting into place. Paul always said this would happen by week 3 and he was right.

This is really getting exciting and it gives you such a boost when you look at what you have achieved in such a short space of time.

I have just completed week 1 of my 4 week Painting and Decorating course and it’s been a brilliant start to my training. I can’t believe how much I have learned in just 5 days and I’m already looking forward to next week.

Arrived at Specialist Trade Courses to be welcomed by Paul Allen who will be my trainer for the next 4 weeks.

After being introduced to and learning about all the materials, tools and equipment we would be using, we were set our very first project for the week. We were each given our very own purpose built training bay which would be my home for the next 4 weeks.

Our projects were specially designed to introduce us to a number of painting and decorating techniques which would give us a taster of what practical skills are needed to work in the trade. This would include hanging lining paper on ceilings and walls ready for papering, how to use a plumb line, painting with emulsion and cutting in techniques using different colour paints, and preparation of all woodwork and surfaces to achieve a professional finish.

Paul is very good at the demonstrations and makes sure you understood what was being taught. He was very quick to pick up if you were struggling and gave me confidence in what I was doing.

Everyone has done really well and I am very impressed what I have learned in just a week. Paul, the trainer, has been great and he’s always happy to go over things again to make sure you understand.

On the last day of the week, we were given the task of drawing a shape on our painted wall which was measured up and marked up with low tack masking tape and then painted. Paul chose a triangle for me which looked very good when it was finished.

Completing my first project gave me a real sense of achievement and it was great to get a feel for so many different techniques.

Hi, my name is Debbie, I am 45 years old and I live in Croydon with my boyfriend and have worked in the Financial Services industry for the last 10 years. I was unfortunately made redundant at the end of January so decided this was the time that I really needed to think about what I wanted to do.

I started searching the internet on what courses were available and came across the Painting and Decorating course offered by Specialist Trade Courses. I do really enjoy DIY and thought, why not, I should give this a go as I had just paid out to get my house decorated and this was quite expensive. Also, my partner has a few properties he rents out and he always pays decorators to keep up the maintenance on the properties.

The more I thought about it, the better it sounded. I contacted Specialist Trade Courses and spoke to Jean, who is the Operations Manager. After explaining the course in more detail and advising me that I could also receive funding to get an NVQ, this was too good to pass up. I felt assured that this would be money well spent as the course was very hands-on and practical based, taught by skilled painting and decorators with years of experience, which made me confident I would learn a trade where I could earn money in the future.

I arranged to visit the training centre and the facilities were very impressive and helped me make my final decision. Booked on to a 4 week course and can’t wait to get started.

Virtually all private and commercial properties have tiling in them somewhere, so professional tilers are always in great demand. New trends in ceramics and innovations like underfloor heating make this a fast-growing business and, as a result, STC-trained tilers are called on to work on a range of projects nationwide. Our tiling courses teach you everything you need to quickly build a successful tiling business that will give you great rewards and the lifestyle you want.

What You’ll Learn On An STC Tiling Course

We’ll provide everything you need to become a competent tiler, including all your tools and materials, and show you how to:

• Price jobs to win business but still make a profit
• Market and advertise your business cost-effectively
• Set up trade business accounts
• Comply with Health and Safety and insurance requirements
• Make sure your accountant is saving you money

Leaving the armed forces?

Tiling courses are a great career move for those leaving the armed forces, and Specialist Trade Courses was the first tiling company to achieve “Preferred Supplier” status with the Career Transition Partnership.

The Specialist Trade Courses Difference

• FAST: Our two and four week tiling courses allow you to start earning as soon as possible
• PERSONALISED: Small, friendly class sizes mean you get the individual help you need
• EXPERT: Our courses are designed by master craftsman
• ACCREDITED: We were the first private training company to be accepted into the Tile Association
• CONVENIENT: Our training centres are conveniently located in both the north and south of the country
• SUPPORTIVE: We give you a comprehensive training and instruction manual – to keep – and you’ll get access to our free helpline and free refresher sessions
• LONG TERM: We’ll publicise your business through the “Tilers In Your Area” website

We offer intensive Tiling courses, that can teach you a trade and how to build a successful business – from just £355!

It’s easy to pick a trade but not so easy to make a living out of it unless you are trained to do so. If you follow a few simple rules you can make a substantial living even in a recession. As I say at the top learning a trade is completely pointless unless you are taught how to run a business and deal with customers who may be comparing you to three or four other tradesmen.

The work is out there and we can prove it as our sister company Keystone UK has more work currently than it can handle. If you are an existing tradesman with little work you may want to call and we can help each other!

If you are taught by real tradesmen preferably still working in that particular industry you won’t go far wrong, take the time to pick a trade, take the time to do your homework on the training company and above all visit the centre if you can. You will make a good living now and coming out of recession you will elevate to a substantial living, if anything is recession proof then its a good tradesman.

STC offer professional Tiling Courses and Decorating Courses from £345 & We also offer Free, No-Obligation Taster Sessions for all our courses, to discover if Specialist Trade Courses is right for you.

New legislation rumours

I have tried to tell everybody that will listen that the time is coming that tradesmen working in the domestic market will need an NVQ level 2 qualification, well it seems that it is about to happen. We all know that to work in the domestic market you need not have a recognised qualification, well that loophole could be shut and it will soon be law that you will not be able to get liability insurance without an NVQ level 2 or above. This will go for all trades.

Costs to get qualified

STC has funding that means if you pass an eligibility check your NVQ should cost nothing, NVQs are also being changed and the new qualifications QCF (Qualification Credit Framework) now also has some funding attributed to it.

If you do not register then these will be the costs of a qualification if the funding stops.

* Experienced workers (over 5 years) can do a two day assessment and achieve their qualification this will cost circa £550 (certain trades only).

* Under 5 years experience an NVQ/QCF will cost circa £1500 and take 3-9 months to achieve.

For gods sake register – if its not with STC then with someone else that has funding

My company is not the only company that has government funding but if you do not register you WILL HAVE TO PAY….we are not telling you for our own sake if you want some more information then please call me 01279 723270.

Complacency

The trouble in this industry is that nobody thinks it will effect them “I only work in the domestic market, you don’t need a qualification”, well it will and if they do not act it could end their business.

* I am getting calls every day from experienced workers that are being refused entry to sites even with over 25 years of experience.

* Some tilers think that once registered for an NVQ that is all they need because this allows them to apply for a CSCS card and allows them on site, this is true but it only lasts one year !, if you do not achieve your NVQ within that year you will have to wait 3-9 months for a qualification and to be allowed back on site.

* All of the above will be the same for the domestic market sooner or later and if you think you can work without liability insurance then more fool you.

Please pass on this message

Please let anyone or everyone know that if they do not have a qualification it will effect them, I have funding for Tilers, Decorators, Plasterers, Window fitters, Electricians and security installers (CCTV) if you know someone in a trade please tell them this isn’t a sales pitch as we are not the only company with funding but they could miss the boat.

Specialist Trade Courses can find the course that’s right for you from just £345 – You can also try any Trade course with a free taster session for Tilers, Decorators and Plasterers.